Phosphate recovery from phosphate conversion coatings waste liquid at Volvo Trucks Tuve

Abstract

Volvo trucks at Tuve factory accumulate waste water from the phosphate conversion coating process and the current recycling involves a filter press and also collecting the waste water in tanks which Stena Recycling empties several times a week.

The aim of the work described in this report was to see if solvent extraction of phosphorous with a tricaprylmethylammonium chloride ligand (in short TCMA) can be used on the wastewater from the conversion coating process at Volvo Group Trucks Tuve to recover the phosphate and reduce the need for replenishing phosphorous in the process.

The conclusion was that TCMA could work but to determine the possible success of using TCMAs in a solvent extraction of phosphate further thorough testing is needed. But first the question that needs to be answered is what the purpose of recycling the phosphorous from the waste water is. Is it to reduce the amount of phosphorous needed for the process by reusing it or should the phosphorous be extracted and sold for other use?